21-05-2025
O'Shea believes Kerry can cope without departed stars
Siofra O'Shea is confident that Munster finalists Kerry have the resources to plug the significant losses they've encountered since winning last year's All-Ireland.
The Kingdom will face Waterford in Sunday's provincial final in Mallow though they'll be without a number of legendary figures from their landmark 2025 campaign.
There's a new management team for starters, headed up by Mark Bourke, while reigning All-Stars Ciara Butler, Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh and Kayleigh Cronin have left the playing panel.
Those are giant losses with prolific attacker Ní Mhuircheartaigh retiring and Cronin heading to the AFLW after featuring in their National League win.
Emma Dineen and Hannah O' Donoghue, who scored 2-4 between them in last year's All-Ireland final defeat of Galway, aren't available this year either.
It's a talent drain that few counties would be capable of absorbing though Kerry are already on the cusp of securing a second major trophy in 2025.
"We've lost a few starters alright," said O Shea, the PwC GPA Player of the Month for ladies football. "You have Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Emma Dineen both gone from the full-forward line. Obviously Kayleigh Cronin has gone since the league final. Ciara Butler in goals is gone, big leaders in our team from the last number of years.
"The departures are affecting your panel depth then because a player like Hannah O'Donoghue came on last year in the All-Ireland final and shot the lights out.
"There were different girls like that who would have been coming off the bench but the upside is that a lot of girls have come in too, who are probably younger as well, so that's not a bad thing.
"They're eager to learn and every training session they're trying to impress, it's bringing a new dynamic to the group."
On the credit side of the ledger, O'Shea said that getting Emma Costello back has been a big addition.
"We're lucky that we've got Emma back over the last few weeks and she's played in our last two games. She was there two years ago, started the All-Ireland final and was probably one of our players of the match on the day. She's a massive player to get back, she's such a leader on and off the field and the experience she has is really important in what is probably a younger group now."
Kerry were pushed all the way by Waterford when the sides met in the provincial round robin earlier this month, eventually winning by 2-9 to 1-11 in Dungarvan.
A repeat win for Kerry this weekend would propel them through to Group 2 of the All-Ireland SFC alongside Cork and the Connacht runner-up, either Galway or Mayo.
Meanwhile, the beaten Munster finalists will go forward to Group 4 alongside Leinster champions Dublin and Leitrim.
"Both groups are going to be tough, whatever way it goes, but we're more focused on the Munster final," said O'Shea, who pointed to Waterford's strengths.
"Waterford are going to bring a big test for us. It's probably their first final in a few years, be it league or championship. They haven't made it to many finals. They've been hanging in in Division 1 but haven't made a final there so this is going to be a massive game for them. They're such a tough team and we only beat them by a point a couple of weeks ago so we have a fair idea of what's coming.
"They have some standout individuals but they moreso work very well together and always drag you into a dogfight."
